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Monday, January 27, 2014

Keng Lye: Proximity and Continuation

Keng Lye creates these lovely pieces of artwork by adding layers of resin and acrylic paint (no doubt was he inspired by Riusuke Fukahori). From seeing his pieces, I could indicate two different Gestalt principles at play: continuation and proximity.
Alive without breath3 by kenglye
In this photo, it's hard to believe that there aren't any real fish in the bowl, but rather layered with resin and acrylic paints. But when one pays attention to the motion of the group of fish (that's where proximity plays in), the viewer's eyes continue in a circular path (and that's continuation).



Proximity explains how if we see similar items close together, we group them together. Even if there are (let's say) eighteen fish in the bowl above, we only see them in one group. It's a group of fish to the viewer's eyes.

Continuation explains how the eye moves from one object to another because of the motion indicated. When seeing this piece, the viewer assumes that they are swimming (because they're fish in water, that would make sense!). So the motion that the group of fish are in would be in a circular motion, which has this invisible line connecting the gap between the two different directions the fish are going in.

Here are some more examples below:

Why are there so many songs about rainbows... by kenglye

Proximity: The plants in the bucket are grouped together in a circular motion.
Continuation: The plants are guiding the eye in a circular motion.

Go on, leave me breathless. by kenglye

Proximity: The two fish (or is it fishes?) that are in the center of the ripple. Also, the twigs underneath the fish would play into the role of proximity.
Continuation: The twigs are placed in a circular motion. The fish are in the center of the ripple, which the viewer's eyes would be lead to the center of the ripple as well as on the outer ring of the ripple (which is why the twigs help being the eyes back to the fish). Also, the fish with the white stripes is facing the other, which has this invisible line to the viewer to go spot what the fish is looking at.

Come on, baby, let's do the twist! by kenglye

Proximity: The octopus's tentacles
Continuation: The direction of each tentacle leads the viewer to another tentacle.

Just go with the flow... by kenglye

Proximity: The large amount of fish.
Continuation: The direction the fish are heading towards.

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